How is margarine different from butter?
The essential difference between butter and margarine lies in the type of fat they contain. Margarine, made from vegetable oil, contains more unsaturated fat (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) when compared to butter and contains no cholesterol. Butter, made from milk fat, contains more saturated fat than margarine. Furthermore, butter also contains dietary cholesterol. Research has shown that saturated fat, as well as dietary cholesterol, can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, margarine is recommended over butter for a healthy diet.
